Question

How can I quit smoking?

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Before I got pregnant I smoked about a pack a day. As soon as I found out I was expecting I quit completely. The problem is, now that I'm past the morning sickness stage I'm beginning to crave cigarettes again -- even though I know how much they can harm my baby. What should I do?

Mom Answers

I understand your problem, I am 6 weeks pregnant and and right when I found out I was I quit smoking cold turkey. It is a struggle but I have found exercising 2x/day and walking on my breaks has helped to break my habit. Stay busy and keep your mind off it. The excersize will help you and your baby to and the endorphines from it helps with the cravings.

Angry Melissa, believe whatever you want. It makes no difference to me. Fact is, I work with displaced veterans, not with angry hate mongers such as yourself. Further, spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy and the like can happen with any pregnancy, not just to women who smoke. Many women who lose a baby, for any reason, have some degree of shame and or guilt and that's normal. The fact that you seek validation from your helpful #'s is laughable, simply childish.
For those of us who are pregnant and quitting, here are some things that are helping me. Buy a copy of "From Conception to Birth", the amazing pictures helped to make the baby "real" rather than just a concept. Chew nicotine gum if you must but use it sparingly. Taper off...I went from apx. 20 cigs a day at 3 wks. preg. to zero at five weeks. Try Nico-Gel, again, in small amounts when needed. Do not beat yourself up for smoking, if you slip just move on.The guilt will cause you to smoke more so don't dwell on it

I quit too them moment I found out I was pregnant, I wasn't a heavy smoker..3 or 4 lights a day and didn't inhale, but that didn't mean I didn't get nicotine fits once I stopped that's for sure. I am using pure will power to not give in. I am much more a social smoker and luckily I've been able to avoid that scene. When I get a craving I take a few deep breaths, think about the money I'm saving ($5 bucks a pack is alot of money!) and know my unborn baby is getting the best care possible. You can do it, mind over matter! Hang in there!

Smoking is a terrible addiction. I have been smoking since I was13 now 32. I am in my 13th week of pregnancy with my second child. With my 1st child I decided one day that enough was enough. I understood the dangers, my doctor said no to any aids.(nicotine patches, gum) So I quit cold turkey. I felt so good that day, until about 10 hours later, something was wrong. I broke out in cold sweats, turned gray and had severe cramping. I was rushed to the hospital. I almost had a miscarriage that day. I almost lost my baby because the stress I put on my body and the baby taking away those filthy cigarettes. I was advised to slow down, but do not quit cold turkey. By the end of my pregnancy I had it down to about 4 to 5 cigs per day. I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. He is now 3 years old. He has never been sick. No illness of any kind. He is smart. People are often very surprised when they learn is is only three. Now I am pregnant again, and feel the same guilt and pressure. Good luck all

I am almost 7 weeks pregnant. This is my first and I have been a heavy smoker for 10 years. Everytime I pick up a cig, I feel terrible and I really want to quit. Quitting is all about taking small steps. As sson as I found out I was prego(week 5), I began cutting back. I have always been a chain smokers and the first habit to break was to not smoke another after my first cig. I have beaten that habit! The next step I took was to smoke only half cig at a time. I have been doing this for a week and have found out my cravings are less! The hardest thing is at wrok because I work night shift- 12 hours long. I get restless and smoking breaks break up the long periods of time. The last couple days I have been smoking half pack and day( huge diff. than my more than pack/day). However my husband is quiting smoking too and its helping! We bought the Commit Lozenge and it is helping as well. I really want to quit and I am determined! To all of you, just take small steps! good luck!

Anyone else see this bs?????
"I just found out i'm about 5 weeks pregnant. I have had one miscarriage but didn't know i was preg till i had the miscarriage. I am a smoker and a stresser so smoking helps with stress. But i want to do EVERYTHING in my power to insure i don't lose this baby, but its so dam hard to stop smoking. I break the cig down, if i have one, so it only has about 2-3 hits on it and threw the rest out. And i only do that like 1 to 2 times a day. I want to totally stop, at least while im preg, but thats so hard when there is so much stress!! Any advice?
posted 01/12/2010 by MelissaMar"

I can't tell you how to quit altogether because I struggle too. I've been a smoker for many years and work at a hospital so I get a lot of guff for smoking which just adds to the stress. When I found out I was pregnant I thought I could just put them down, but when I'm at work I find myself sneaking out to have one on my few breaks during my 12hr. night shift. I don't smoke at home or in the car any more though, which I'm very proud of. I wish you the best of luck and wish I had some solid advice; but I suggest cutting back in hopes of stopping, but don't over stress yourself. And remember that you're not alone.

I am 37 years old and I am 34 weeks along in my pregnancy. Unfortunately I have been smoking for over 20 years! Trust me I know how difficult it is to quit and still have not managed to do so, however I have cut back considerably- from about a pack a day to about 5 or 6 a day. Be proud of yourself for the little victories!! Feeling like a failure just allows you to feel worse and more stress. One thing that I have done is I have switched brands to American Spirits- They are 100% additive-free natural tobacco. Of course no cig is good for you but at least you have peace of mind knowing their not so jam packed with chemicals!! Good luck to all!

i am 19 weeks pregnant and i smoke one to two a day and on really stressfull days when nothing goes right i may have a little more especially when non smokers who cant relate get on my back about it. no its not the HEALTHIEST thing to do but tons of women smoke and have normal babies its more about genetics than tobacco so dont worry to much about it cut back to like 5 a day or less its more harmfull to your baby when your stressed out and anxious.

I smoke when I'm upset, angry, lonely, anxious, depressed, bored and stressed. During pregnancy I am all of those things X 100!!! I want to quit and will, I know. I smoked with my son until I was five months, not a lot, five or so a day but not everyday, which the Dr. said was fine. He also said for decades women smoked while preg. and there are lots of healthy people in the world even though those women smoked. Happy to say my son is HUGE, smart, no allergies, no behavioral issues, he's just perfect and he's five yrs. old! I will quit sooner with this preg., I'm only four weeks!!! but I'm not going to beat myself up over it. My grandma smoked three PACKS a day w/all four of her children, can you imagine? I ordered Nicogel to use in place of cigs in case I need it, I plan to take four days alone to detox from the nicotine. Better to be alone than to lash out at everyone I love during withdraw. I want to quit for many reasons, the baby is just one, but PLS, be gentle w/yourself

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